comparing Percentages

Understanding Percentages

Definition of Percentages

• Percent: The term "percent" comes from the Latin phrase "per centum," meaning "per hundred." It represents a proportion or a fraction out of 100.

Conversion of Percentages

• Percentages can be converted to fractions and decimals in a straightforward manner:

  • Conversion to Fraction:

  • To convert a percentage to a fraction, remove the percent sign (%) and place the resulting number over 100.

  • Example:

    • 60% converted to a fraction is:
      $\frac{60}{100}$

    • Which can be simplified to:
      $\frac{6}{10}$ or $\frac{3}{5}$.

  • Conversion to Decimal:

  • To convert a percentage to a decimal, remove the percent sign and move the decimal point two places to the left.

  • Example:

    • For 60%, it can be expressed as:
      $60\% = 0.60$.

Comparing Percentages

• When comparing two percentages, the larger percentage has the greater value.

  • Example of Comparison:

  • Comparing 60% and 50%:

    • It is clear that 60% is greater than 50%.

    • Therefore, 60% has a higher value relative to a hundred than 50% does.

Summary of Key Concepts

• Percent is a number per hundred.

• Conversion to fraction involves dividing by 100.

• Conversion to decimal involves moving the decimal point two places left.

• In comparisons, a higher percentage indicates greater value.